PDLP Chapter 67 New Year's Eve Party
Chapter 67 New Year's Eve Party
Chapter 67 New Year's Eve Party
The banquet hall of the Four Seasons Hotel was now a scene of revelry and chaos.
Today is December 31st, the last day of 1996.
MGM held a grand New Year's Eve party here. On stage, CFO Orwell announced that all employees' year-end bonuses would be distributed by tomorrow night, causing an immediate uproar from the audience, with cheers and applause.
Screams erupted one after another.
Many people were even shouting Ernst and Robert Iger's names at the top of their lungs. If you didn't know better, you would think it was a concert by some top star. The atmosphere was instantly pushed to a climax.
"You've gained the prestige you wanted; at least now, no one at MGM can question your decisions."
In a corner of the banquet hall, Ernst swirled his wine glass, looking every bit like a cunning villain in a movie: "In America, reputation is sometimes very important, but it's also the cheapest thing. As long as you can bring profits to those shareholders, you can even ask them to lick your toes at your feet."
"Does that include me?"
Ernst shrugged. "Of course, if Mr. Hefner would like to."
After saying that, the two of them burst into laughter, and the women sitting next to them covered their mouths and smiled apologetically.
The old man is really lucky with women; the two beauties beside him today are no less stunning than the gifts Ernst received last time.
On the last day of 96, the media suddenly broke the news that MGM would acquire 60% of Playboy Group's shares through a combination of equity and cash, becoming its largest shareholder.
According to the Los Angeles Daily News, this was a New Year's gift from Chairman Ernst to all MGM shareholders.
However, opinions on this acquisition are quite divided and varied.
In terms of market capitalization, this transaction is fair. Both the current valuation of MGM and the valuation of Playboy Group are within the acceptable range and are quite reasonable.
However, many people feel that Hugh Hefner made a bad deal, because the brand value of Playboy was much higher than that of MGM at the time.
Many people say that MGM would agree to even a price increase of another 30 million dollars.
However, there is a different view, namely that MGM is now on the road to revival.
Playboy's brand value is considerable, but no one can deny that this American icon is now facing internal and external troubles and multiple challenges. It is no longer the magazine that once dominated the world.
On the contrary, MGM saw a glimmer of hope for resurgence after Ernst took over. Hugh Hefner won't even need to recreate MGM's glory days; as long as MGM's business can return to the status of the Big Seven, he will have made a fortune.
"Robert Iger just said that MGM's goal this year is to return to the top seven. Isn't that a bit too ambitious?"
Although there are still various financial audits and a bunch of procedures to be completed, Hugh Hefner has already considered himself a part of MGM.
Otherwise, I wouldn't have accepted the invitation to attend MGM's New Year's Eve party today, and I wouldn't have brought so many bunny girls to help out.
The moment the bunny girls appeared, they instantly attracted everyone's attention. I bet many people were silently thanking Hugh Hefner, the head of the atmosphere team.
$1.34 million for The Fat Professor, $1.28 million for The Birdcage, and $1.24 million for The Birdcage.
However, since the movies released in December are still showing, it remains to be seen whether "The Birdcage" can maintain its position as the last film in theaters.
"There's nothing to regret. In my opinion, it was bound to happen sooner or later, and it won't take more than two years."
Hugh Hefner burst out laughing. "Then I'll be waiting to attend the celebration party for the year's box office champion."
Ernst found it amusing; the old man was quite concerned about saving face.
If MGM can indeed take the top spot at the North American box office within two years, its valuation will definitely skyrocket.
And isn't today's decision a wise one by Hugh Hefner?